Preview : Tom Clancy's EndWar
In the year 2020, a global anti-missile shield eliminates the threat of nuclear war. However, the loss of a "mutually assured destruction" scenario, coupled with major political upheavals, paves the way for World War III. Three major factions: America, the European Union and Russia vie for control of the planet. Players choose a side and take command of customized armies in Tom Clancy's EndWar.
EndWar, an online strategy game that plays like a tactical action game, has been designed from the ground up for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 - a major shift for Creative Director Michael de Plator, who has worked on real-time strategy (RTS) hits like Rome: Total War. Whereas real-time strategy games like Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars successfully overlaid a PC control scheme onto a game pad, the developers at Ubisoft Shanghai expunged all thoughts of PCs from their minds as they figure out EndWar's controls. Additionally, it will throw out traditional concepts of single-player vs. multiplayer action and combine them into one seamless concept. Single-player offers tutorials, but the real fighting takes place online. The globe will be divided into territories. Players will decide which ones they wish to engage and then jump into the fray alongside and against other commanders.
The game trades in the god-like top down RTS view for a more restricted character perspective. Although players can choose where to look, the camera is always attached to a unit at any given time. These limitations bring in a different dimension of strategy, since opposing units will be hard to spot from a distance and hidden behind terrain such as mountains and hills, creating plenty of ambush opportunities.
Players can switch to an overhead map view to plan things out. To streamline controls, EndWar includes an optional voice command scheme. From the strategic map, players can shout commands into their headsets, directing squads to assault positions or call in for reinforcements. In combat mode, voice commands can be used to switch to different points of view. Backed by the processing power of the 360 and PS3 consoles, voice recognition should work much better than past endeavors that have been tried on previous platforms, adding an unprecedented sense of immersion, since players will feel as though they will be talking directly to their units.
Divided into a handful of categories, players can outfit their squads with Riflemen, Engineers, Helos (helicopters), Artillery and Command Vehicles. Command Vehicles serve as mobile bases of operation, with an array of missiles attached to them. In staying with a realistic theme, all units and soldiers need to be flown into the combat zone; nothing magically appears out of thin air. Calling reinforcements could require a wait time as additional support arrives. All units will be balanced against each other with specific strengths and weaknesses, and commanders can have twelve squads in play. Unlike most other strategy games, resource management won't be an issue. Instead of harvesting resources, players gain point tokens for each objective they achieve. All units cost the same, and all factions have the same units to maintain balance.
Computer controlled soldiers operate with realistic tactics and movements. If a soldier gets shot, comrades will try to rescue him by dragging him out of the line of fire. Assaulting buildings plays out like a Rainbow Six scenario, where soldiers kick in the door and run in guns blazing with backup following closely behind. Soldiers will then take up sniping positions shortly after securing the building. Each unit gains knowledge and experience with each operation, increasing their overall skill and creating a rapport between players and the soldiers they command. Units will reminisce about past assaults and use their expertise in future ones. Unlike traditional real-time strategy games, where players command faceless, disposable troops, EndWar ensures that the loss of a veteran unit will be heavily felt. Losing a soldier means losing all of his experience, weapons and upgrades.
A faction wins the campaign once it dominates the majority of the planet, but such an event sets up the starting point for the next campaign. For example, if the Russians conquer the United States, the next campaign could focus on the Americans fighting to reclaim their land.
Scheduled for release in 2008, Tom Clancy's EndWar will bring a whole new level of strategic gameplay and interaction to the Xbox 360 and PS3.
Related Links
Tom Clancy's EndWar Game Guide
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